Prof. Sky Alton

Notes @Annie Bloodrune I added a space to your name so it matches your HOL name and you were approved as a first year. :)

Hello, everyone! I really hope you had a fun, magical and eventful term. Before everyone rushes off to make the most of the summer break, I have a few awards to present. Before I do (and yes, I’m aware that’s two befores… It’s been a long term, you guys), I just want to thank each and every person who contributed to Gryffindor this year, in big ways or small. Whether or not you earned an award, you helped make the house the amazing thing it is. We might not have done brilliantly in the cup standings this year but we still showed up and gathered a truly impressive number of points between us. And there’s always next year, right? ;) Now, onto the awards…. The Platinum Quill Award is for the lion who earned the most points during the term. I’m delighted to hand it to @Myrna Firethorn! In a dazzling display, she netted 1192 points. Very well done indeed. Next up are the prizes for our ruby collectors. @Emerald Wolvenhowl scoops the Phoenix Award for being the Gryffindor with the most rubies, having gathered an eminently respectable pile of 173 through hard work and creativity in the house activities this term. The race for the Lionheart award was very tense this time round with 3 visitors neck and neck until the very last moment. Nevertheless, it goes to @Maxim Trevelyan of Ravenclaw for managing to earn 370 rubies - excellent work! And Kudos to Harry and Louis Walles (of Hufflepuff and Slytherin respectively), just behind on 350. And now for the awards decided by the Gryffindor staff. The Studious Simba award goes to someone who has worked incredibly hard in their classes. This term, it’s a pleasure to hand it to @Luna Lemongrass. Not only was Luna our second highest point earner this term but our highest overall for the year! If that doesn’t prove dedication to her classwork, I don’t know what does. The Curious Kitten award is presented to someone who has been a welcoming, encouraging or heartening presence in The Den. It’s been quite quiet in The Den recently but this term’s winner has shown up consistently throughout the term, bringing some much needed fun to Peeves’ Place and the roleplay forum, making the CR feel more inviting for everyone in the process. Congratulations to @Sheila Bagnold! The Friend of the Den is a rather rare award. We give it to those members of other houses who make a real difference to Gryffindor and help out the lions. This year, I’d like to present it to @Maxim Trevelyan. He unhesitatingly leant his support, energy and brainpower to me several times this term when Gryffindor found itself short staffed at the last moment, so he’s an extremely worthy winner of this award. The Pride of the Pride Award is the highest honour we have here in Gryffindor. It’s awarded to someone who has made a huge difference to the house. Not many people have ever received it but This term, it goes to @Iverian Gnash. During her years on the Gryffindor staff, Ivey has been a ray of sunshine and a pillar of strength for Gryffindor. She’s masterminded many activities (and more than a few world domination attempts but let’s not dwell on those), patiently guided new members and remained full of hope and enthusiasm, even when things got tough. She’s been the best Prefect in Charge that I (and the house) could have wished for. Unfortunately, she’s having to step down as prefect to focus on her RL college education but I couldn’t let her go without this award - she’s more than earned it. Right, that’s quite enough speeches from me. Let’s celebrate! The butterbeer is over there and I’ll just go get the chocolate fountain started…

You stick out your arm and with a bang, the lurid purple Knight Bus explodes into being in front of you. A little cautious, you climb on, saying hello to the smartly dressed conductor as you do. You survey the lower deck, full of mismatched chairs. It’s also full of people - the wizarding world is out in force today. Maybe there’s someone you know aboard? The Situation: You’re riding the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley to stock up on school supplies. Given that it’s the summer holidays, you might bump in to anyone from Hogwarts/HOL on the bus. I wonder who you’ll spot. The Location: Please keep RP to the bus itself so everyone can keep track of what’s going on. Give the guidelines a read before diving in. Have fun!

"Rather you than me. The day I could stop doing homework couldn't come quick enough," Sky says, then she wrinkles her nose, "although now I grade stacks of other people's work every night, so perhaps I didn't escape it after all." She quickly shields the roll behind her back. "Honestly, I wouldn't mind," she tells him, "but I think a few of the other professors might be rather miffed." She twiddles her wand and a replacement roll appears above the platter, doing a few cartwheels before settling neatly on top of the stack.

"Finished?" Sky asks, a hand on her hip. "I'm sure you will have aced your NEWTs," she says, softening slightly. "And even if you didn't," she adds, lips quirking to the side, "being known for ever more as the Head Boy who got soup in his own hair is some kind of legacy, at least." She reaches around him to snag a roll from the table. If a drama queen student is going to keep her from her dinner, she's at least going to snack while she prods some sense back into him.

Sky dashes into the hall, not for the first time wondering why on earth she agreed to teach Herbology when the long walk from the greenhouses invariably means she's late for dinner. Though half her mind is on her plate waiting at the top table, she takes a moment to enjoy the happy, relieved hum in the room. She smiles distractedly round at everyone, giving Aura a friendly half wave as she passes her quiet corner. She's nearly to her goal when she notices Maxim lolling over the table and can't help but raise an eyebrow in wry amusement.

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Approved Emma Foster - First Year Rejected Rhea lalani - I'm afraid I couldn't find you in the HOL database.

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Stage

Approved Jordan Romero - First Year

Approved Leona Maharani - Slytherin Visitor

Hi there, Skylar and Aura! Great to see you in The Den.

Approved Aura Nightmoon - Ravenclaw Visitor

Here we are, nearly at the end of the school year! Remember that most classes have a final deadline of the 15th of June, though this can vary (so double check!). Aside from sending in those final bits of homework, there are still a couple other fun ways to earn a few last minute points for your profile. Anything extra you manage to earn helps Gryffindor finish in as strong a position as possible too, so it really is a win win! The HOwLer still needs you! Help make the final issue of the school year sensational. The theme is ‘The Mists of Time’ and you can find out more over on the Main HOL Forum. Remember there are 60 points up for grabs. Deadline: 17th June Feel like a spot of space travel? There’s an astronomically exciting activity going on on the main forum right now, based on the beloved book, A Wrinkle In Time. Go join the adventure, try your hand at some puzzles and exercise your creativity. Deadline: 25th June There are fresh department projects to delve into as well. Now because of when graduation takes place, these points won’t count for the current school year but they’re an excellent way to get a head start for the next one! The Art Department is inviting you to a very cute graduation party and then giving you total free rein to create whatever you like. The Library Department are having a thrilling time of it, with tales of the Mermaid Wars and summer crimes. Art Deadline: 30th June Library Deadline: 3rd July Not long now: let’s finish strong and get Gryffindor every last scrap of glory we can (while having lots of fun, of course). Let’s go, lions, let’s go!

Great to see you in The Den, Mia!!

Approved Amelia Jameson - First Year

Hi, everyone! I just wanted to update you about a few changes I’ve made to the options you have for customising your profile here on the Gryffindor forum. 1. Pronouns I’ve added a pronouns field where you can specify the pronouns you’d like people to use when referring to you (for example she/her or they/them). Currently, your pronouns will show up alongside your posts to make it easier for people to check them and use them correctly when chatting to you on the forum. Please do make sure you pay attention to people’s pronouns (if they’ve chosen to provide them) and do your best to use them. Rather than providing set options, I’ve made this an editable field so you can explain your pronouns in whatever way you like (though there is a character limit). I do need to make it absolutely clear though that I expect everyone to treat the feature with respect. Anyone who uses it to mock people’s pronouns or for any other purpose that breaches the HOL Code of Conduct will face the consequences. 2. Gender Our existing options for specifying your gender were very limited. I’ve now expanded that field with a range of options which I really hope are much more representative of the community. You can also specify multiple options. I’ve also edited the ‘Not Telling’ option to ‘Prefer not to say’, which does affect people who are currently using that option. Again, this feature needs to be treated with respect at all times. You don’t need to specify your pronouns or your gender if you don’t want to. Both fields are 100% voluntary! If you have any concerns about the new changes or suggestions for making things more inclusive of you or others, please do reach out to me in a private message. Inclusivity is always a work in progress and feedback is massively useful. I want to work with you to make this as supportive an environment as possible for all our members.

Notes melefic - Your display name was changed to @Melefic Beryl Nengnong to match your HOL name and you were approved as a first year.

Approved Willow Fuertes - First Year Rejected Abby Lee - I'm afraid I couldn't find you in the HOL database.

You stumble between two trees and find yourself bathed in light from the setting sun. You can hardly believe it: you're out of the forest. The castle is right there, it's windows twinkling in the evening light. You take a moment to breathe and then begin to trudge back towards school. Food, a drink, a bath, fresh clothes, a peaceful night's sleep, asking someone to accio your wand.... you can't decide which sounds better right now. Well done! You made it out in one piece. And you found some rubies along the way. They should all have been awarded now but if you spot any mistakes, just send me a quick message so I can look into it for you. Kudos goes to Harry Walles, Louis Walles and Maxim Trevelyan for completing all the tasks and earning the maximum number of rubies. Thank you all for taking part, its been a wild adventure!

You arrive at the great hall for dinner. Evening sunlight is slanting through the high windows and the enchanted ceiling is a deep blue. Everyone is chatting happily and there are a lot more smiles than usual. The Situation: It’s the end of exams! Everyone in every year has sat their final test and it’s time to relax. While you won’t find out the results for a while, most people still seem to be in the mood to celebrate and let off steam. Location: You can roleplay in and around the great hall. Give the guidelines a read before diving in. Have fun!

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